The Washington critic., 1887-09-22
ENERGY AND THRIFT.
The Leading Business Houses of
the National Capital.
TnI,otnn Park,

't"u'g uuu advantages OF washington are
greatly enhanced by the superb country
surrounding 1t and Its great adaptabllity for
creating beautiful sites for homes. As one
OF the most beautiful Of the entire section,
the writer OF this article recently took a
nying trip to the aboye-namcd Park.
Located on the Baltimore and Ohio RIu-
way at distance OF only five miles from
the centre OF the city, run Of less than a
quarter OF an hour, past hills and valleys,
lovely forests and fertile fields, brought tue
Train to stop at neat aud attractive
station, where, with team OF fine horses
Mr.. B. +. Gilbert, the father Of the place,
met the scribe aud proceeded to show him
a lew OF the improvements already made.
ne ilrst stop was at natural spring OF
water, flowing from among the roots OF the
forest trees aud continuing across the vii
lage as limpid stream, and limpil, indeed
II is, Tor 1t is strictly pure, and pronounced
by those competent to judge as having less
foreign matter than any before discovered
from this spring drive over the grayeled
streete, passed many elegant homes, promi.
nent among which is that OF Mr.. Gilbert
himself, through long avenues Of forest
trees, with handsome homes showing
through the superb vista, he rode for an
hour.
There are over eight miles Of streets al
ready graded and graveled, aud the work
Ia constantly going forward-oyer one hun
dred mechanics and laborers being en-.
ployed In Takoma to carry forward the
building and improvements already under
way. Mr.. Gilbert Will contract to build
houses at very low rate, as he has
such large force at work making II an
easy place to obtain house on monthly
payments. More than sixty handsome
homes have already been erected, while
many more are under way. Aud when 1t
is considered that Mr.. Gilbert only com
menced the enterprise three years ago, the
strides made are indeed wonderful. The
wisdom OF the selection OF this spot is at
once apparent to even the most casual OBJ
server.
The heavy growth OF timber allows OF
thinning out, so as to leave shade trees in
the most eligible locations, and these are
ample to give any desired effect. The
aromatic perfume OF the pine adds much to
the charm OF the place, as well as tending to
render 1t free from all miasmatc diseases
The land is the highest OF any suburban
location near Washington, and comprises
about eleven hundred acres, the contour
OF which renders 1t possible to make II one
OF the most lovely residence sections OF our
country. High hills and deep valleys, with
parks OF exquisite beauty, in which are
found springs OF pure water and chalybeate
springs, side by side, bubbl!ng up from fine
aud pure white sand.
sligo Creek flows through the site for
distance Of two miles, and along this stream
Will be a driveway, which, when com
pleted, will be one of the most romantic In
the country. The water is pure and clear
In some places leaps from rock to rock in
an ecstacy OF freedom, while in others It
plays hide and seek among the gigantic
boulders found in the bed Of the stream,
and, above all, the monarchs OF the forest
stretch out their mighty arms from either
SIDE and mingle high In the air, forming an
arch above the pathway of the waters. A
hundred-room hotel will soon be built by
the side Of this stream.
Every precaution ia used to insure the best
moral as well as sanitary regulations, aud
prices are extremely low, Mr.. Gilbert
charging but from II cents to cents per
foot for lots, and at these prices ia kept
busy, as purchasers cannot fail to profit
largely by any Investments they may make.
Plans Of the grounds can be seen at Takoma
Park Building, No. 625 4 street, and those
wishing to examine the place will be cour.
teously treated BY those In charge. The
advantages OF Takoma as place OF resi-
dence, place for quiet, social eDjoyments,
or place to educate children away from
the vices Of a city and still near enough for
Its advantages, will be appreciated, espec.
Tally by parents, and will tend to rapidly
add tQ Its population.
ThSB. and o. have Just commenced rum
ming trains over It's new double tracks,
which adds greatly to the convenience oi
those residing at the Park.
Independent Ice Company.
This company has been under It's present
management since 1872, and probably 4:
one of the largest in the country. Mr.
Church, the president, has been actively
engaged In the Ice business for the past
thirty-six years, and has an experience In
this speciSty probably equaled by nc
other man In the country. They have O
fleet Of schooners built especially for this
business with an average capacity OF from
nine to fourteen hundred tons, the latter
being the largest, and is named after the
president. The ice is mostly used In the
District and Alexandria, and is all Kenne.
bee ice, harvested by the company and
brought here In their own vessels. They
have recently constructed large artificial
lake at Booth Bay, Maine, at a cost OF ovel
10000. This enables them to cut ice aud
ship 1t during even the most severe
weather, an advantage possessed by nc
other company. They also have made
many Improvements In ice harvesting ma.
cbinery which are Of great benefit.
They have fifty wagons in the city, and
employ about $50 hands, beside those en-
ployed at the ice fields In Maine. The
storage capacitS In Maine is G0,000 tons and
1900 In the District. The firm keep their
name before the people on the many large wa
ter-coolers which they have placed In public
positions, and at the same time render Q
service to those who are In the vicinity o.
them. Mr.. Church is native OF Maine
but has resided here since 1910, and he take
an active interest In all things which tent
to the up-building OF the city.
Van II. Manning.
This well-known member OF the Wash
ington Bar is native Of Mississippi, and ha
for three sessions OF Congress been a repre-
sentative from that State. His offices
which are In the Pacific building, are hand.
somely furnished, and his extensive library
contains many of the standard legal works
not found usually In an ordinary collection
Mr.. Manning was a member of Genera
Lees army during the rebellion, aud II
1864 was brought prisoner Of war, desper
ately wounded, and confined In the Capito
building and held there until all the Con
federate army had disbanded. Mr.. Man
ming has resided In Washington most OF tht
A'ho piheS ASfoI 80 Neiy w Oe' DSeANi
iul city, and in matters calculated to stimu
late It's growth and add to Its general pros
perity Is ever ready to give his hearty favo
and substantial support.
j. l.. Kervand.
The business conducted by the gentlema,
whose name heads this article, at l02t
Pennsylvania avenue west, is a complete
engraving, lithographing and plate printing
establishment. Mr.. Kervand is a skillfu
workman in his line, and his work will bea
comparison with any other that is pro
duced ia this city or elsewhere. He doe
all branches OF this. delicate and beautiful
class of printing, such as wedding invita-
lions, visiting cards, ,vignettes and portraits
commercial work, such as checks drafts
certificates of stock, letter and bil-heads
notes, ETC., aud also all kinds OF sciestldt
work, maps, charts, plans, diagrams, de